If you’ve been a regular reader of Your Grad School Coach and you’ve learned a little bit about me, you know that I’m sort of a tiny bit of a Jay-Z fan stan. I’ve written before about how contrary to what you will hear in the media, there is positivity and motivation and inspiration to glean from hip hop music. Not only has the music been a soundtrack for my life, but hip hop helped me get into grad school, through it, and beyond.
Just earlier today, I’m listening one of my favorite cuts from Jay-Z’s classic album “The Blueprint” and I’m realizing how applicable these lyrics are to applying to grad school. It’s ironic, at best, because Jay-Z never attended college – much less graduate school, but applicable nonetheless.
Lyrical Exercise
Among the gems he drops in “Breathe Easy (Lyrical Exercise)” between the beats:
I spring train in the winter
Round early December
Run suicide drills over and over
Spring training in the Winter? You better believe it! There are very few mistakes in life when it comes down to accepting to once in a lifetime opportunities. Getting into one of the nation’s best graduate programs is one of those lightning-doesn’t-strike-twice-in-the-same-spot moments. As fierce as the competition gets as more and more people seek out advanced degrees, you better be in the proverbial habit of spring training in early December – that is, if you want to seize the opportunity in the first place.
Get Started Today
Even (and especially) if grad school is still a few years away, NOW is the time to start preparing for the tryout of a lifetime. I’ve shared stories of the many mistakes I’ve made that kept me out of Ph.D. programs in the past. Being underprepared tops the list as the biggest mistake I’ve made that set me up squarely for grad school rejection. I don’t mean that you’ve studied for and taken your GREs or GMATs when I say be prepared. I mean doing the legwork to make sure that your application package is the standout in the pack.
Here are some questions you want to consider in the pre-application phase to grad school:
- What are the top graduate programs in your field?
- Are the top programs truly the best programs to take you where you want to go in your career? Or is your list just so because U.S. World and News Reports or some other rankings list said so?
- Are there university faculty members that you stan for and would practically give your left arm to learn from and collaborate with? If you don’t feel that kind of passion, perhaps you’re not looking at the best graduate program for you.
- What are available summer programs can you apply to to give you a taste for the work you want to do?
- Which internships or volunteer experiences offer real-life experience and will look amazing on your academic resume?
- Would a semester study abroad give you extra “oomph” and interest to help you stand out from the rest of the pack?
Spring training starts now. Consider your answers your personal training schedule to follow for the next few months. Get out there and practice your heart out because Grad School Tryouts are just around the corner. Only the strongest and most prepared survive and make it to the team.
